FERRARI should not have used team orders to push Sebastian Vettel ahead of Charles Leclerc so early in the season.

That's according to former Prancing Horse ace Gerhard Berger, who believes the young Monegasque should be allowed to race against his German team-mate despite the latter's experience and titles.

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Leclerc, car 16, has had to let his Ferrari team-mate Vettel, car 5, take the lead this season, despite showing he can match the GermanCredit: Getty Images - Getty

In the opening three races of the F1 season, Ferrari have been outclassed by Mercedes, with Lewis Hamilton and Valtteri Bottas claiming one-two finishes at each Grand Prix.

In Australia, Leclerc was ordered to remain behind Vettel in the closing stages, before being told to stay in his teammate's mirrors after a poor start in Bahrain.

The 21-year-old ignored Ferrari's instructions in Sakhir and went onto lead the race, losing only after an electric fault - still finishing on the podium, while the German had to settle for fifth.

Fast forward to last weekend and Leclerc was once again told to switch places with Vettel, as the Italian team hoped the latter could catch the two Mercedes cars.

But the four-time world champion could not close the gap in China, finishing third, while the young star was later passed by Max Verstappen after having to slow down.

I don't think it's enough to say 'well this one is experienced, this one is not experienced so we take the card of the experience'. I think let it run.

Gerhard Berger

And Berger feels this is showing that the two Ferraris should just be allowed to race as normal with Leclerc only a point behind Vettel in the Drivers' Championship, despite playing second fiddle.

The ex-Benetton and McLaren racer told Reuters: "Much as I like Sebastian, and much as I rate him, here is a boy [Leclerc] who is capable of winning the championship.

"I don't think it's enough to say 'well this one is experienced, this one is not experienced so we take the card of the experience'. I think let it run."

Vettel is looking to end a six-year streak without a world title, having failed to claim the championship since joining Ferrari in 2015.

Meanwhile, Lewis Hamilton is looking to add his sixth overall and third in a row this season - but his team-mate Bottas was still allowed to claim victory in Melbourne despite Mercedes favouring the Brit.

LECLERC DESERVED PROMOTION

While Berger believes team orders can be good later in the season, using so early does not bode well for Leclerc's mentality towards the Prancing Horse team.

The former Toro Rosso boss and DTM promoter said: "I think it's a question of when it is [acceptable], and is it really giving somebody not even a chance to win the championship?

"If you do it in the first or second race, I don't agree."

And Berger feels Leclerc earned his promotion and is not too young to racing for such a high-level team.